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BYO Birdseed

It’s always lovely to go on a long holiday to a far flung destination. There are times, however, when it’s not convenient or cost effective and a staycation closer to home is the way to go. The destinations in this series of posts are all just a few hours’ drive from our home. They’re easy to get to, there’s plenty to see and do and at the end of the holiday we’re home again in no time.

The Scenic Circuit walk at Queensland’s Bunya Mountains National Park is aptly named; there’s a beautiful view of the North Burnett region from Pine Gorge Lookout. But it’s not just the scenery that attracts visitors to this isolated section of the Great Dividing Range.

Fondly known by all who visit regularly as “The Bunyas”, the park is Queensland’s second oldest and home to the world’s largest stand of bunya pines. These magnificent trees tower above the subtropical rainforest at the top of the range. Every three to four years, they produce huge cones up to 30 cm in length which contain large edible seeds called bunya nuts. Although the distinctive pines dominate the landscape there is a wide variety of flora and fauna, some only found in this area.

Our circuit walk begins from the picnic area at the tiny settlement of Dandabah, where small groups of red-necked wallabies gather to graze. In spring and summer, flowering black bean trees attract crimson rosellas.

Once on the walking track we need to be on the lookout, because many of the forest’s inhabitants are timid. We almost miss a motionless eastern water dragon, sunning itself on a log by the creek.

Not so worried about hiding is a male brush-turkey, more interested in attracting a female to his mound of leaf litter than avoiding us.

As we continue along the path, an eastern yellow robin darts along the forest floor ahead of us.

Not so welcome are the giant stinging trees, their leaves covered with fine, silica-tipped hairs. Even the lightest touch causes pain which can last for days. We’ve heeded the advice on the warning signs and worn our closed-in shoes on this walk, because even dead leaves on the ground can be harmful. Luckily there are no stinging trees close to the path and we move on unscathed.

After a dry winter, only a trickle of water flows over the rocks at Festoon Falls but it’s enough to sustain the lush ferns and mosses clinging to the rock walls.

In the shallow waterholes below we spot large brown tadpoles, half hidden by the dappled sunlight on the water. They will take up to three years to mature into great barred frogs, which live in burrows in the creek banks.

It seems as if all life in the mountains grows slowly; strangler figs take hundreds of years to completely overwhelm their host plants. The walking track passes spectacularly between the aerial roots of one giant fig. The tree is more than 400 years old and the space is all that is left after the host plant died.

The circuit finishes with a gentle climb from the forest floor up the hill to the picnic area.

In the late afternoon, birds gather when seed is put out for feeding and photo opportunities. Regular visitors bring their own birdseed, because small bags from the general store are costly. Crimson rosellas and king parrots compete for attention, while sulphur-crested cockatoos wait more patiently till the rush dies down.

Kookaburras would prefer to snatch a sausage from the barbecues of unsuspecting picnickers.

When you come to the Bunyas bring your shoes, bring some bird seed and definitely bring your camera. You’ll want to photograph more than just the scenery!

62 thoughts on “BYO Birdseed”

Thank you Glenys. You would enjoy the Bunyas, but you need to know the road up the mountain is steep and very windy and not suitable for caravans. There is a lovely campground though with plenty of tent sites. There are also many houses and cabins for rent for long or short term stays.

I would agree. It’s close, yet so exotic! Guests get to see those amazing birds, the wallabies, the poisonous plants and that lovely lizard! It was a perfect place to enjoy the day, not to mention the trees! 🙂

Oh I do love this post!!! For so many reasons. The pine trees are glorious and it so happens that I love pine trees, one of my favorites. So much so that my middle son’s name OREN means pine tree. Growing up I spent time living in Israel and we would crack open pine nuts on the forest floor and eating the nuts fresh as can be. Bliss.

I would WAY rather come across a wallaby than a huge water lizard, such as can be found in our neighborhood here in Sri Lanka. I might have to move. And oh the birds. Glorious!!! So lucky you.

I’m pleased you enjoyed seeing the bunya pines, Peta. The bunya nuts need to be cooked before eating. I’m not keen on giant lizards either, but this little water dragon is quite harmless. We have much larger ones I wouldn’t want to meet. The birds are beautiful aren’t they. 🙂

Wonderful details, Carol. This has been a great series and I’m really enjoying looking at the variety of flora and fauna (not to mention the cute wallaby 🙂 ). Your tree photos are stunning. Thanks so much for sharing.

Best Thanksgiving gift of all – this lovely tour. For the gardener, tree hugger, and animal lover in me, this post was like going to a candy store. Your landscape is so different than mine, and I am always amazed at the difference in texture and color – you win hands down. Thank you so much for taking your readers on this adventure. 🙂

I’m pleased you enjoyed it so much Judy. We would probably feel the same if we came to your area, noticing how different it is. We do love visiting the Bunyas. Here’s something to make you feel even more envious. I belong to a sewing group and, twice a year, we rent one of the beautiful big homes at the Bunyas for a weekend. Then we spend the whole weekend crafting, chatting, laughing and eating delicious food. It’s wonderful.

I so enjoyed walking here with you Carol. I am hoping it was nice and cool under the forest trees and I am very grateful that you warned me about the stinging trees! We have the dastardly nettles here, but trees? Oh, boy. You Aussies always have to do things BIG 😀

If you’re going to do something, it may as well be big. 🙂 It was a very hot day there but so beautiful under the trees. It’s always a few degrees cooler up there in the mountains, especially in winter. It can get quite frosty and sometimes there has even been snow.

Many places get snow in the winter, but it’s usually a light dusting and doesn’t last long on the ground. The Snowies and the Victorian Alps have a definite ski season and this year it was extended because they got more snow than usual. If it does snow in the Bunyas, it has to get very cold and then it will mostly be overnight and gone in a few hours. It’s rare but it does happen.

I really enjoyed that walk, thank you. It looks like such and interesting place, and seeing so many birds was very exciting. The top photo, of the view, is a great reminder of how big/expansive everything is. 🙂

Oh my you live in an extraordinary place! I was excited about the 30cm cones and then you go to the wallabies and I squealing with glee. So many birds and intriguing trees. I truly enjoyed reading your post.

You’re easily pleased, Sue. 🙂 Wallabies are pretty cute and we never tire of seeing them each time we visit. I’ve only ever seen a cone in a museum and it was very impressive. Thank you for reading and enjoying.

What an amazing array of wildlife in this place. I love the trees, and the Kookaburra, the wallaby, the eastern water dragon and the roots of that fig tree. What an amazing place. And this is not far from your home!